What we took away from meeting with the nurses on Monday is:
There's no dietary restrictions, but she's got to drink fluids. Lots and lot of fluids to flush the chemo out after it's done for the session.
They said food can sometimes taste tinny so her palate might change while being treated.
The biggest side-effects of chemo usually hit 4-7 days after infusion. Fatigue comes from the fact that during the week many of her blood cells, white and red, are dying off as well as any cancer cells. All rapidly growing cells (including hair) are attacked by by chemo. After bottoming out, it takes up to a week to regenerate to normal.
The nurses said to skip Ensure because it tastes like crap and get Carnation Instant Breakfast which is about identical in nutritional content.
Ice Cream, Ice Cream, Ice Cream. Calories and liquid at room temperature therefore good for hydration. (Not so good for my diet, but we must make sacrifices).
On the personal side, our history of punk rock cynicism, working class upbringing, and gallows humor I think has given us an edge in coping with this thing. I was thinking how horrible it must be to be raised in some disney-fied reality and then get smacked with something like this. Sure it takes it's toll, mostly for me the running around and such, but I know to my very core that Kate will be fine.
I used to question altruism a lot more than I do now as well. I used to debate whether it was possible to truly want to sacrifice for another and whether or not the desire to sacrifice was still within rather than without. I guess at some levels that's still true, but now in the sense that I really wish I could take this bullet for Kate, but is there even more I might be able to sacrifice and am I just being selfish in some unrecognized manner to where I don't see what more I could do.
I used to question altruism a lot more than I do now as well. I used to debate whether it was possible to truly want to sacrifice for another and whether or not the desire to sacrifice was still within rather than without. I guess at some levels that's still true, but now in the sense that I really wish I could take this bullet for Kate, but is there even more I might be able to sacrifice and am I just being selfish in some unrecognized manner to where I don't see what more I could do.
Not to be too...whatever, but I'm coming to understand the idea that dying for a cause is easy, living is hard. I could easily take this cancer that Kate's going through upon myself, but the hard part is not feeling sorry for myself and having the strength to overcome/deal my own frustrations, aggravations, and such in a positive, healthy way so I can be better support for Kate.
This thinking occurred to me yesterday while driving with her through some pretty tough traffic and expressing forcefully my displeasure at my fellow commuters. It helped nobody and worst of all, added to Kate's tension unnecessarily. Or as a lesson from Freemasonry, we must try and circumscribe our passions.
With that tomorrow we embark on the second phase of this process.
While I don't feel like I can find enough words to beguile either of you in a situation like this, I am following the blog with the greatest admiration and interest simply because I love you both.
ReplyDeleteGood luck today! I highly recommend Purple Cow Frozen Yogurt from Jimmy's in Roslindale Village. It's delicious!
ReplyDeleteI admire your introspection. It is certainly a spiritual trial, and I do think sacrifice is real. Sometimes the little things are all we can offer, like circumscribing our passions, as you say, but that's what's needed.
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